Clock.



A. M. YEAKEL.

CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED Mums, 1912.

1,037,705. Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

IIIII. w. W "MM/7.

INVENTOR Q l dJ/LMM fiW Jay BY fi ze dmm M COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co WASHINGTON, n cy UNITED STATES PATENT o ro ABRAHAM M; YEAKEL, 0F PERKASIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILSON L. YEAKEL, OF PERKASIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM M. YEAKEL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Perkasie, county of Bucks, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Clock, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to a new and useful clock improvement and has for its object to provide means whereby the clock spring or springs or other parts may be readily detached or disassembled without necessitating dismantling of the clock mechanism. It further consists of novel means for connecting the main spur wheel or gear with the main spring and all of these parts with the frame of the clock.

It further consists of novel means whereby the relative position of co-acting spur wheels and lantern Wheels may be adjusted. It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In clock mechanisms which are now in general use, the construction is such that when the main spring is broken, it is necessary, in order to repair or replace the same, to'take' apart the side frames or supports forthe clock mechanism and thus the repairingor replacing of a comparatively inexpensive part of the. mechanism becomes quite a costly undertaking so that it is frequently cheaper to buy an entirely new clock rather than to attempt to repair the old one.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents an end elevation of a portion of a clock mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view on line .r-m Fig. 1, showing in dotted lines -a different position of part of the mechanism. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of th main driving wheel. or gear. Fig. 4 represents a sectional View on line Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 23, 1912.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

Serial No. 685,705.

y-y Fig. 3 showing a portion of the spindle in connection therewith. Fig. 5 represents a partial side elevation and partial sectional view of a portion of a clock mechanism in detached position. Figs. 6 and 7 represent sections of a portion of an arbor and sup porting sleeve or bushing showing different means of assembling the parts. Fig. 8 represents a transverse section of the main arbor in detached position showing the means for connecting the same with the main spring. Fig. 9 represents a plan view of the arbor in detached position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate.

corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the front and back frames of a .clock mechanism which are arranged in a suitable manner in opposed relation and spaced apart by suitable means such as spacing posts 2 to.provide for properly locating the clock mechanism therewith.

3 designates the main spring which, as here shown, is removably secured at one end to a sleeve 4: which is adapted to receive and to be carried by one of the spacing posts 2, which latter it will be seen passes freely through one of the side frames and is in threaded engagement with the other side frame, whereby it will be understood that if desired the main spring and coacting parts can be swung down in the position seen in dotted lines, Fig. 2, or, by releasing the post 2 and withdrawing the same from the sleeve 4, the springand coacting parts may be entirely removed. In order that the spring 3 may be released from the side. frame 1 and connected therewith without taking the said members apart, I provide a construction comprising a bushing or sleeve 5, which carries and has suitably connected therewith the main drive gear or spur wheel 7 which carries a pawl 8 coacting with the ratchet 9 and with the spring 6 engaging the pawl 8, these parts serving the usual purpose and function. The sleeve 5 is adapted to be connected with the main spring 3 and, in the present instance, the said sleeve is provided with a struck-up lug or projection 11 which is adapted to cooperate with the walls of an opening or slot 10 suitably formed adjacent the inner end of the main spring, whereby proper cooperation between the sleeve and the spring takes place.

In order to removably connect the sleeve 5 and the parts connected therewith with the front and 'back frames 1, I provide an 1, while connection between the sleeve and,

arbor is effected in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of a set screw 13 and a lug or projection 15 which is formed on or carried by the arbor 12 and which lug enters and engages the wall of a slot 14 Iprovided in one end of the sleeve 5. As will c more clearly seen from Fig. 9, the arbor is also provided with the shoulder 14' against which the end of the sleeve abuts and I preferably desire .to provide a seat or recess 15 in the arbor, which is adapted to receive the end of the set screw 13 when the latter is properly actuated therefor. By this means it will be understood that I I have provided a positive connection be tween the arbor and the sleeve and which can be quickly and easily released by proper operation of the screw 13. Other means for connectin the arbor and sleeve are shown :and in ig. :6, I have shown the .same secured together by emp'loyinga suitable pin 16 or like fastening device which passes through suitable openings in the sleeve 5 and .arbor 12, While in Fig 7 I have provided the parts with coaoting screw-threads 17. I have also provided means for varying or adjusting the relative position of the spur wheels or gears and the cog wheels or lantern wheels in order to prolong the life and usefulness of the clock mechanism, since I have found in practice that where no adjustment is possible, the points of contact between a gear and lantern wheel become worn so that a positive drive is prevented with consequent loss or gain in time indicated. To this end, I provide a sleeve or bushing on which I mount the gear or the lantern wheel or both and I mount the sleeve or bushing upon a spindle or arbor and provide means for connecting these parts.

18 designates the spindle suitably pivoted on the side frames 1 and mounted upon said spindle is -a sleeve or sleeve 20 which is adapted to be fixedly secured to the spindle 18 by means of a set screw 22 or like fastening device and I further provide slots 23 in the sleeve which are adapted to receive a. pin or projection carried "by the said spindle 18, whereby sliding movement is permitted between the 'two parts when the set screw 22 is loosened and which slots and pin assist in holding the parts in proper position when the set screw 22 is positioned to secure the spindle and sleeve together. As stated, I may mount the spur wheel or gear on the sleeve 20 or I may mount the lantern wheel on said sleeve or I may mount both a spur wheel and a lantern wheel on said sleeve, in order that the position thereof may be varied or adjusted with the sleeve 20, in order to vary the point of contact of a gear or lantern wheel with its coacting gear or lantern wheel.

In Fig. 5, I have shown the gear 21 mounted on the sleeve 20 so that when said sleeve 20 is adjusted on the spindle 18 the point of contact of said gear 21 with its coacting lantern wheel may be varied.

In Fig. 1, I have shown both the gear 21 and lantern wheel 19 mounted on the sleeve 20 in order that both are adjusted when the sleeve 20 is moved on the spindle 18 in order that the points of contact of each with their respective coacting gear and lantern wheel is varied. Thus, after gear Wheel and lantern wheel have operated together for a certain time and the lantern Wheel has become worn at that portion of its surface which is in contact with the gear wheel resulting in an irregular movement of the clock mechanism, the gear or lantern wheel may be slightly moved so that another point of .contact is presented, thereby materially increasing the life of a clock. When the parts are in the position seen in Fig. 1, it will be understood that by loosening the screw 13, the arbor 12 can be withdrawn from the sleeve 5 and the side frames 1 so that the main spring, gear and parts carried thereby can be swung into the position seen in Fig. 2 in dotted lines, and may be entirely removed by releasing the spacing posts 2, as above stated, the parts being quickly and easily returned to position by again placing the sleeve 5, main drive and spring between the side frames 1 and inserting the arbor 12 within the sleeve 5 after which the set screw 13 may be operated to secure the parts together.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a complete unitary structure,-simple in construction, eflicient in operation and Whereby the parts may be readily disassembled to renew or repair parts thereof and reassembled without disturbing other arts of the mechanism, and I have further devised a structure wherein adjustment of coacting gear or wheels may be effected for presenting new contact points without affecting other parts of the mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and .desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a clock mechanism, the combination of a main drive gear, a sleeve carrying said gear and having a slot therein, a main spring suitably connected with said sleeve, an arbor, means carried by said arbor for seating in said slot, and auxiliary means for connecting said sleeve and arbor.

2. In a clock mechanism, the combination of a main drive gear, a sleeve carrying said gear and having a slot therein, a main spring suitably connected with said sleeve, an arbor having a projection adapted to seat in said slot, auxiliary means for connecting said slevee and arbor, and a recess in said arbor for receiving the end of said connecting means. i

3. In a clock mechanism, a main drive gear, a sleeve carrying said gear and having a slot therein, a main spring suitably connected With said sleeve, an arbor having a projection adapted to seat in said slot, a shoulder on said arbor against Which the end of said sleeve abuts, and auxiliary means for connecting said sleeve and arbor.

4:. In a clock mechanism, the combination of a main drive gear, a sleeve carrying said gear and having a slot therein, a main spring suitably connected With said sleeve, an arbor having a projection adapted to seat in said slot and having a shoulder against Which the end of said sleeve abuts, auxiliary means for connecting said sleeve and arbor, and a seat in said arbor adapted to receive the end of said connecting means.

5. In a device of the character stated, a plurality of rotatably mounted spindles, a driven wheel carried by one spindle, a dr1ving Wheel meshing therewith and carried to one of said Wheels and movably mounted on said Wheel spindle, an interlocking connection between said sleeve and spindle and auxiliary means to secure said sleeve in adjusted position.

6. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a plurality of spindles, a driven Wheel carried by one spindle, a driving Wheel meshing therewith and carried by the other spindle, a sleeve fixedly secured to one of said Wheels and movably mounted on said Wheel spindle, a slot in said sleeve, a projection on said Wheel spindle coacting With the Walls of said slot, and auxiliary means for connecting said sleeve and Wheel spindle.

ABRAHAM M. YEAKEL.

Witnesses:

IRVIN Y. BARINGER, MILDRED BARINGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

by the other spindle, a sleeve fixedly secured o 

